Beirut, Lebanon – Diplomatic and security tensions in Lebanon were heightened on Saturday following a serious security incident in the south of the country. The incident resulted in the death of a French soldier and injuries to others from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The attack sparked a wave of official condemnations and raised concerns about further destabilizing the fragile situation in the border region.
Details of the “deliberate attack” in Ghandouriya
In the details of the incident, UNIFIL announced that one of its patrols came under small arms fire from “non-state actors” while conducting a routine mission to remove unexploded ordnance in the town of Ghandouriyeh.
Initial assessments by the international forces indicated that the gunmen, suspected to be affiliated with Hezbollah, opened fire directly on the patrol. This resulted in the death of a French soldier and injuries to three others, two of whom were reported to be in critical condition. For its part, the Lebanese Army issued a statement confirming that the UNIFIL patrol had engaged in an exchange of fire with the gunmen in the aforementioned area. The statement also emphasized the military’s condemnation of the incident and its continued close coordination with the international forces to overcome this delicate situation.
Aoun offers condolences to Macron and pledges justice
On the official level, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun promptly contacted his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to offer his sincere condolences for the death of the French soldier. Aoun strongly condemned the attack on the French force, stating that these soldiers were performing a noble mission in the service of international peace and stability on Lebanese soil. In a statement issued by the Presidency, President Aoun affirmed that Lebanon “categorically rejects any attack on UNIFIL.” He also emphasized the state’s commitment to ensuring the safety of the international forces and providing them with the necessary conditions for their operations.
Aoun announced that he had issued immediate directives to the relevant security and judicial authorities to launch an urgent investigation to determine responsibility and apprehend those involved to bring them to justice. He affirmed that the state “will not tolerate any leniency” in this matter.
Government action and open investigations
In a related development, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that he had given strict instructions to all security agencies to conduct an immediate investigation to uncover the circumstances of this treacherous attack.
Salam emphasized that targeting peacekeeping forces constitutes an attack on Lebanon’s sovereignty and its international obligations. He also stressed the necessity of holding the perpetrators accountable to ensure that such incidents, which place Lebanon in direct confrontation with the international community, are not repeated.
This incident comes at a highly sensitive time, as Lebanon seeks to consolidate security in the south. These developments unfold amidst international warnings that any harm to UNIFIL troops could have serious political and military repercussions for Lebanon.
